Tame the Tigers

Leicester Tigers: Favourites to lift the Aviva Premiership trophy again in 2013/14

Sky Bet's Jordan Fiddes explains all the odds in the outright markets for the upcoming season.

While there was a lot of activity on transfer deadline day in the Barclays Premier League this week, the 12 clubs of the Aviva Premiership have been busy all summer.

With a total of over 100 players joining the ranks of the competing clubs in the off-season, the 2013/14 Premiership should have a fresh new look and witness a few shocks along the way.

Leicester maintain the favourite's tag after last year's Premiership Final triumph and are just 15/8 to make it a second triumph on the bounce as well as odds on to reach a 10th successive Grand Final.

The Tigers have recruited well in the off-season - most notably Jerome Schuster who fills the void left by Martin Castrogiovanni - but they have also added depth to a squad that are hampered come International time.

Their closest rivals in the pre-season betting are last year's table-toppers Saracens who are 9/4 for Grand Final glory and the same price to finish top of the pile again this year.

The Sarries have been quiet in the transfer market this year but have added power in Billy Vunipola and James Johnston to an area they struggled in last year.

This should lay a platform for their impressive backline too.

If Owen Farrell can transfer his Lions form back into the club competition, he could see his 8/1 price slashed for the 'Regular Season Top Points Scorer.'

It should also mean more action for winger Chris Ashton who has 39 tries in 64 games for his club and is also an attractive 8/1 to take the 'top try scorer' accolade.

Wasps out wide

Thetwo favourites in that market are, understandably, the two London Wasps wingers - Christian Wade and Tom Varndell.

Wade is shortest at 13/2, however, expect him to appear for his national side more frequently this year - meaning less time to cross the whitewash for his club.

The Adams Park side were 20/1 to win the Grand Final last season but that price has doubled at the start of the 2013/14 campaign.

They ended last season with seven straight losses and will have to gel quick with new fly-halves lining up for them.

Last year's beaten finalists - Northampton - have moved from 8/1 into 5/1 to reach the final again, largely due to the recruitment of Lions duo Alex Corbisiero and George North.

Welsh winger North has scored 12 tries in 30 starts for his country and is joint fourth favourite to be the top try scorer at 14/1.

Recruited well

Next in line to Northampton are Harlequins at 6/1, having increased from 9/4 at the start of last season.

They have lost James Johnston to rivals Saracens and will struggle with the retirements of Kohn and Skinner but they do have flair out wide and can boast this year's favourite for the 'Top Points Scorer' market.

Nick Evans - in his sixth season at the club - claimed the award last year with 258 points and is a short 4/1 to repeat that again in 2013/14.

Richards returns

Newly promoted Newcastle are favourites for the wooden spoon at 2/1, yet with some astute signings made by Dean Richards, this market is not as clear cut as it was at the start of the off-season.

Both Worcester and London Irish are narrowly behind the Falcons and, with the latter losing 10 of their first 12 games last season, their price has shortened somewhat to just 4/1 in the same market.